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ETD Abstract Container

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Comparison of Sophomore and Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Older Adults

Shortreed, Mary P
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4285-025X
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp1426722614

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Nursing Practice , Case Western Reserve University, School of Nursing.
Ageism is prevalent in society and healthcare. Research has shown that nurses and nursing students do not prefer to care for older adults. With the percentage of older adults increasing, by 2030 one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. The current nursing shortage is increasing as the population increases. This growth in the older adult population will further increase the demand for nurses. Although many related studies have not been conducted in the United States, results are conflicting whether nursing students enter their education with negative attitudes towards the older adult or if they develop negative attitudes during the education and socialization process. Little is known regarding the effect of gender on these attitudes. The purpose of this study was to compare sophomore and senior baccalaureate nursing students’ attitudes toward older adults, using a cross-sectional comparative descriptive design. The convenience sample included all sophomore and senior baccalaureate nursing students at a Midwest university in the United States. Of the possible 179 students, 177 chose to participate, and this study was completed prior to the sophomores attending any clinical experiences. Attitudes were measured using the Kogan’s Attitude Toward Old People Scale (KATOP) and Work Preference Ranking. On the KATOP scale, both sophomore and senior nursing students had very positive attitudes toward older adults. As most research has shown nursing students having negative attitudes on this scale, this study was not consistent with the literature. Related to work preference ranking, most of the literature shows nursing students ranking caring for older adults low upon entering a nursing program, with these rankings becoming more negative over time. This study showed that although students consistently preferred to care for populations other than older adults, there was no statistical difference between sophomore and senior students’ attitudes toward older adults. Gender had no effect on attitudes toward older adults on the KATOP or work preference rankings. This study did show statistical significance for students who had previous experience caring for older adults compared to students with no experience. Students with this experience were more likely to rank caring for older adults more favorably. This study will add to the body of literature in the United States regarding nursing students’ attitudes towards older adults by showing that although nursing students do not prefer to care for older adults compared with other patient populations, their attitudes toward this age group are very positive.
Evelyn Duffy, DNP (Committee Chair)
Donna Dowling, PhD (Committee Member)
Amy Weaver, PhD (Committee Member)
111 p.
Aging; Education; Gerontology; Higher Education; Nursing
Attitudes toward older adults; nursing students; ageism; older adults; Kogans Attitude Toward Old People Scale;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Shortreed, M. P. (2015). Comparison of Sophomore and Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Older Adults [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp1426722614

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Shortreed, Mary. Comparison of Sophomore and Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Older Adults. 2015. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp1426722614.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Shortreed, Mary. "Comparison of Sophomore and Senior Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Attitudes Toward Older Adults." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casednp1426722614

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

casednp1426722614
306
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University Doctor of Nursing Practice and OhioLINK.